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View Full Version : Scary driving incident (warning: language)


Sunsetsky
08-25-2007, 02:33 AM
I had an incident that happened to me today while I was on my way home from work. By the end of it, I was upset to the point where I had started to cry.

Basically, I've been having some minor car problems. Some difficulties getting it started, but once I get it going it runs fine. But nonetheless, I've been making plans this weekend to have my dad take a look at it so he can fix it.

Anyways, I was on my way home from work. I'm about ten minutes away and I drive on a major street to get home. I'm stopped at a stop light when I suddenly hear persistent honking on my right side. Looking over I can see a guy, probably in his sixties, trying to get my attention. He motions for me to roll my window down, so I open it enough to be able to hear him.

We'll call him JA for jackass.

JA: You're car is smoking.

I look back and sure enough there a little bit of smoke. Then again, I had just slammed on my brakes.

JA: You need to get that care somewhere NOW to have it looked at. You're driving rubber there.

Me: Alright. Thank you.

I didn't have any money on me nor were there any car places open at this time. Plus, as I said, I was planning on having my dad fix my car tomorrow or Sunday. AND as I had just slammed rather hard on my brakes. I look forward and realize that the light has turned green and I continue on my merry way.

As I continue driving, I notice this guy trying to keep up with me. I'm getting rather nervous at this point. I don't look at him, I keep driving but at the same time keep a look out for any smoke incase it wasn't the tires. There is none, so I shrug it off a bit. A minute later, I hit another red light. The guy is still next to me and I notice he is making an attempt to line his car right next to mine but is unable to due to the fact that there is another car in front of him. He honked once or twice too.

I lose myself in my thoughts waiting for the light to change, when I suddenly hear it.

BAM BAM BAM

Surprised I look over at my passenger side window. The JA had gotten out of his car and was pounding on my window. Surprised, I opened my window at a small crack.

Me: *raised eyebrow*
JA: LISTEN, this isn't just some oil filter problem. YOU NEED TO PULL THE HELL OVER. YOUR DAMN ENGINE IS ON FIRE.

First he was telling me I was riding on rubber, now it's my engine?

He stands there and continues swearing at me loudly. While he's doing this, I glance forward at the front of my car. No smoke. I glance behind me. No smoke.
I've had enough.

Me: GOD, Leave me alone! FUCK OFF!

I roll up the window and he stares at me before climbing back into his car. However, there is no damn way I'm heading home now with this fucker following me like this. So I whip into a parking lot after the light turns and wait for him to pass.

From there I called my mom and chocked out what happened. I was so upset over this. My dad told me to keep an eye out on my way home to see if there was any smoke coming out as I drove. Sure enough, there was none.

Most of the people I told this to asked me if I took his license plate number. I honestly didn't think to at the time. I was so upset. I was understanding when he warned me the first time. However, getting out of the car and BANGING on my window and then swearing at me was OVER THE LINE. I would've had every damn right to call the police on him.

NightWolf
08-25-2007, 04:06 AM
WTH?!? Was this a case of. "I'm a guy and I know more about cars then you do!" or what?

What a dickhead!

Should have maced him or something.

Sunsetsky
08-25-2007, 04:08 AM
Now that you mention it, I do have a thing of mace in my purse. :o

kibbles
08-25-2007, 12:07 PM
I'm so sorry that happened to you, it must have been nerve wrecking! Are you okay?

kerrisan
08-25-2007, 12:13 PM
He was probably going to offer you a ride somewhere or follow you home or something. Sounds like bad news to me . . .

blas
08-25-2007, 04:56 PM
Ya know, there always seems to be decent people out there who just want to lend you a hand, and THEN there are the crazies who are trying to get you paranoid.......

When I had my 87 Tempo, it constantly died at stop signs and stop lights. If I had to stop for longer than a minute or so, the car would die. I'd have to turn they key back, and put it back in park, then back in drive. Sometimes as I approached stop signs or sharp curves, it would die as well.

I had many "helpers" try the same shit with me. Ignore them.

BookstoreEscapee
08-26-2007, 01:40 AM
When I had my 87 Tempo, it constantly died at stop signs and stop lights. If I had to stop for longer than a minute or so, the car would die. I'd have to turn they key back, and put it back in park, then back in drive. Sometimes as I approached stop signs or sharp curves, it would die as well.

I had many "helpers" try the same shit with me. Ignore them.


If you had said '89 Cavalier, I'd think you got my old car. When I'd get almost to a stop, it would shudder and if I stopped it would die. Always started right up again. Never did it when my dad drove it, of course. First time it happened I was in the left lane on the highway with a large truck behind me. :eek: Once it happened 8 times in what would normally be a 10 minute drive home from the next town over.

No one ever stopped to help me...

My engine light came on a week and a half ago, and the other times that's happened it's been because the gas cap wasn't tightened properly and it cost me 85 bucks for them to run the diagnostic and reset the computer. Had an appointment to drop it off Thursday night to be looked at on Friday, so my mom met me at the dealer after work. On my way there, I stopped at a light, felt a little shudder, and it died! (Up until then everything felt prefectly normal.) Perfect timing. Started right up again. Turned out they had to replace something in the fuel system, which was covered under warranty, and since there was actually something wrong I didn't have to pay for them to run the test. Only cost me 9.95 +tax for the oil change with my coupon (cheapest car service I've had in years!) :)

digilight
08-27-2007, 05:06 PM
Just so you know, the check engine light is always refering to something with the "Emisions System" If the check engine light comes on don't worry, the car won't blow up. Do get it checked out, but its not as serious as the Oil Light, or the Brake Light, both of which mean "Oh Shit" Fluid is dangerously low and the engine might blow up/brakes might not stop me.

protege
08-27-2007, 05:29 PM
Not always though. All that light does is let you know something's wrong with the car. A gas cap that's too loose can cause the Check Engine light to come on. To narrow it down, take it to a garage (or Autozone) and they'll pull the diagnostic codes.

Banrion
08-27-2007, 05:43 PM
OR just get your own ODBII reader. ;) and find a handy dandy website that translates for you. Since I have moved 100 miles away from my brother, this has proved invaluable for me communicating to him what's wrong with my car. Now he knows for sure what is an emergency, and what can wait.

Caveat Emptor
08-27-2007, 06:54 PM
I had a problem with a CE light a few weeks ago. I called Onstar and they said "emissions related." I brought it in, they said "known issue with errant code", repro it was off...for one day. I brought it in again a week later and they finally found that an air pump had failed.

Primer
08-27-2007, 08:27 PM
Not always though. All that light does is let you know something's wrong with the car. A gas cap that's too loose can cause the Check Engine light to come on. To narrow it down, take it to a garage (or Autozone) and they'll pull the diagnostic codes.
O'Reilly's will check the code for free, too.

protege
08-28-2007, 02:00 AM
Speaking of the CE light...some of you might remember that my old car failed its state inspection *twice* because that damn light came on. (It's an automatic fail here in PA...no matter how well the car does otherwise.) First time, I was told that the oxygen sensors were shot. Had them replaced, took the car back, etc. When I pulled into the garage parking lot, the CE light was off. It came on when the mechanic pulled into the service bay. At that point, I was pissed, and simply got rid of the car. I wasn't about to spend any more money on that heap--I traded it in, and let some other sucker fix it ;)